Burial-case protector.



'No. 678,224. Patented July 9, l90l.

H. o. CLARK.-

BUBIAL CASE PROTECTOR.

(Appliqntion filed Dec. 19, 1900.)

R 141. INVENTOH flag) l7. Clair i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGH D. CLARK, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

BURIAL-CASE PROTECTOR.

SPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,224, dated July 9, 1901.

Application filed December 19, 1900. Serial No. 40,386. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HUGH D. CLARK, acitizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Burial-Case Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the improvement of grave-locks or burial-case protectors; and the objects of my invention are to provide an improved mechanism for securely looking a burial case or casket within a grave, to so construct and arrange the parts thereof as to firmly anchor the burial case or casket and prevent the same from being lifted from the grave, to provide improved means for protecting the case or casket against entrance or mutilation, and to produce other improvements in details of construction, which will be more fully pointed out hereinafter. These objects Iaccomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a burialcasket-containing case, showing the same anchored within a grave by my improved mechanism. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lower longitudinal frame-piece of my device. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a View in elevation of one of the locking-standards with the greater portion of one side of the same removed for convenience in illustration, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line at a: of Fig. l.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In carrying out. my invention I employ a bottom frame consisting of a bar formed of hinged sections 1 and 2, each provided with a transverse groove 3, into which is adapted to be inserted the central hinged portion of a transverse or cross bar formed of sections 4 and 5, which are hinged at their inner ends. As indicated in the drawings, the ends of the bar-sections 1 and 2 and 4 and 5 are pointed. The bar formed by the sections 1 and 2 is adapted to lie longitudinally and centrally on the floor of a grave, such as is partially indicated at 6. Inasmuch, however, as this sectional bar is of greater length than the length of the grave, it is necessaryin first inserting said bar within the grave to bend its central portion upward in the manner indicated in Fig. 3. By then depressing the barsections until the same are in a horizontal position on the floor of a grave it is obvious that the pointed ends of the bar-sections 1 and 2 will be forced a desirable distance into the end walls of the grave. This being ac com plished, the transverse sectional bars 4 5 are likewise first bent upward and inserted within the grave and then straightened, causing their pointed ends to enter the side walls 'of the grave. As indicated at 5, the barsections 4 and 5 and 1 and 2 may be more firmly anchored to the ground by vertical spikes driven therethrough and into the earth.

As indicated more clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the outer portions of the bar-sections 4 and 5 and 1 and 2 are made to pass loosely through slotted openings in the lower end portions of vertical locking-standards 7,

each of these locking-standards consisting of a vertically-channeled body, the open side of said channel being closed by an inner vertical standard-plate 8, the greater portion of this plate being removed from the standard shown in Fig. 4. As indicated in the drawings, the lower portion of each of the standards 7 is ofgreater width than the upper portion, and within this enlarged portion and on one side thereof I secure one end of an in wardly-projectin g spring-strip 9. The opposite inner wall of the enlarged portion of the standard is provided with an inwardly and downwardly projecting tooth 10. Through the upper end portion of the standard 7 is formed a transverse slotted opening 11.

12 represents the outer case of a burialcasket, which is adapted to be lowered into the grave and caused to rest upon the sectional frame 1 2 4: 5. As shown in the drawings, the burial-case 12 is designed when in its position upon the bottom frame to have its sides and ends embraced by the vertical locking-standards 7, these standards projecting above said case. This being accomplished, an oblong frame 12*, having a filling of woven or crossed wires 13, is mounted upon the case 12, in which position said wire screen or frame is firmly clamped through the medium of a top clamping-frame comprising a central lon gitudinally-arranged bar 14 and cross-bars 15,

the latter being, preferably, pivotally connected with said bar 14. The ends of the bars 14 and 15 are provided with vertical openings, through which the upper end portions of the standards 7 extend, said bars being locked into'engagement with said standards by the insertion through the standard-openings 11 of keys 16, said keys having central openings therethrough. Each of these keys is locked from withdrawal through the insertion vertically within each of the standards 7 of a lockbar 17, this lock-bar having its lower portion provided on one side with upwardly-inclined teeth 18, which are adapted to successively engage the internal tooth of the standard, being held and assured in this engagement by the pressure of the spring-strip 9. As is shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the upper portion of the lock-bar17 extends through the central opening of the key 16, thus locking said key against displacement or withdrawal until the bar 17 is withdrawn. It is obvious, however, that said bar 17 cannotbe withdrawn after the teeth of the same are in engagement with the tooth 10.

From this construction and operation it will be seen that any attempt to raise the coffin 0r burial-case vertically within a grave will be prevented by the engagement of the bottom frame-bars with the earth walls of the grave and that any attempt to raise the top frame 12 from the case will be prevented by the keys 16. It will thus be seen that simple, inexpensive, and eifective mechanism is provided for not only firmly anchoring the burialcasket and itscase within the grave, but that said case is securely locked against having its upper side opened.

Owing to the employment of the comparatively heavy wire screen 13 it will be seen that the whole upper side of the case will be protected against the formation of an opening therein sufliciently large to permit the body to be withdrawn from the casket.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a burial-case protector, the combination with a bottom frame comprising a central bar formed of hinged sections and similarly-formed cross-bars, said bars being when horizontal of greater length than the length and width of the grave in which they are intended for use, of vertical standards 7 rising from said bottom frame adjacent to the sides of a burial-case, bars extending across the upper side of the case and locked in connection with said standards,substantially as specified.

2. In a burial-case protector the combination with a bottom frame comprising longitudinal and transverse bars adapted to have their ends inserted in the walls of a grave, of hollow locking-standards rising from said bottom-frame bars, each of said standards having a fixed forwardly-projecting tooth 10 and an internal spring-strip9, a lock-bar 17 adapted to be inserted within each of said standards, said lock-bar having its inner portion toothed and adapted to have said toothed portion held in engagement with the tooth 10 by said spring-strip, an upper frame comprising a longitudinal and cross bars 14 and 15 having openings to receive the upper ends of said lock-standards, transverse openings through the heads of said lock-standards and keys adapted to be inserted in said standardopenings, said keys being provided with openings to receive the upper ends of said lockbars, substantially as specified.

HUGH D. CLARK.

In presence of A. L. PHELPS, W. L. MoRRoW. 

